Turbine driven false twist spindle



July 4, 1961 R. G. STOLL ETAL 2,990,674

TURBINE DRIVEN FALSE TWIST SPINDLE mum II III L! Filed Aug. 25. 1953 INVENTORS. REINER G.STOLL HANS R. STUCK! BY JTTORNEYS.

United States Patent i 2,990,674 TURBINE DRIVEN FALSE TWIST SPINDLE Reiner G. Stoll, Chatham, and Hans Stucki, Summit, N.J., assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 25, 1953, Ser. No. 376,306 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-7733) This invention relates to a spindle and relates more particularly to a false twist spindle.

In certain textile operations, it is desirable to insert a false twist into a yarn, tow or the like, hereinafter called a yarn. For example, according to one method of imparting a crimp to a yarn, the said yarn is given a twist, preferably while the yarn is in a plastic state, and the twist is then removed from the yarn, all in one continuous operation. The introduction of the twist into the yarn and its removal from the yarn is elfected by means of a false twist spindle which. engages the yarn as it moves from one point to another and rotates the yarn about its own longitudinal axis. The twist inserted into the yarn may range up to a twist multiplier of 900, or more, depending on the degree of crimp it is desired to impart to the yarn, where the twist multiplier is defined as the product of the turns per inch and the square root of the yarn denier. The speed at which the false twist spindle must rotate in revolutions per minute is equal to the linear speed of the yarn in inches per minute multiplied by the twist per inch to be inserted into the yarn. It will be obvious that extremely high spindle speeds are required if it is desired to insert a relatively high twist into a yarn moving rapidly through the twisting apparatus. Not only must the false twist spindle operate at high speeds, but it must also engage the yarn securely so as to impart a uniform degree of twist thereto. The false twist spindles that have been suggested for this purpose have failed to satisfy these two requirements completely in that they have been limited to relatively low speeds because of their bulky, unbalanced construction, or have failed to engage the yarn securely so as to impart a uniform degree of twist thereto.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a 'false twist spindle which will be free from the foregoing and other difficulties and which will be especially simple in construction and efficient in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a false twist spindle which may be operated at extremely high 1 speeds and which will engage the yarn securely so as to impart a uniform degree of twist thereto. 7

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be apparent from the following detailed description and a claims.

According to the present invention, there is provided a false twist spindle equipped with a turbine drive which is operated by a fluid under pressure, such as air or the like, and which may be rotated at extremely high speeds ranging up to 75,000 revolutions per minute, or even more. Through the use of a turbine drive these speeds may be attained readily without an excessive expenditure of power. The false twist spindle is also provided with means for engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the spindle will cause the yarn to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

In one mechanical embodiment of this invention, the false twist spindle comprises a hollow shaft rotatably journalled in suitable bearings. Secured to said shaft is a turbine rotor to which a fluid under pressure is supplied through a nozzle to cause the rotor to rotate at high speeds. The hollow shaft is also provided with suitable means for engaging a yarn. The yarn to which a false twist is to be applied is threaded through said shaft Patented July 4, 1961 and said yarn engaging means whereby the rotation of said shaft will introduce a false twist intothe yarn.

\ While the yarn passing through the false twist spindle may be engaged by any suitable means, a particularly desirable means for this purpose is shown in R. G. Stoll, United States application Ser. No. 376,322, filed on even date herewith. As shown in this application, the yarn engaging means comprises a rotatable shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough. The said shaft also has two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore. Advantageous-ly, these two additional bores are of the same size, extend completely through the shaft at right angles to each other and to the longitudinal bore and intersect one another. With this construction, the shaft will be symmetrical about its longitudinal axis so that it will be free from unbalance when rotated at high speeds. The said shaft is secured to or may be integral with the hollow shaft to which the turbine rotor is secured for rotation therewith. The yarn to which a false twist is to be applied is threaded from the hollow shaft into the end of the longitudinal bore, out from the interior of the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores and back again to the interior of the shaft through the other of the additional bores. The yarn is then threaded through the longitudinal bore to the other end of the shaft.

To assist in threading up the false twist spindle, the yarn engaging means is provided with four slots extending from one end of the shaft to the additional bores and from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore. The yarn, after being threaded through the longitudinal bore, may be drawn through one of these slots to one of the additional bores and to the exterior of the shaft and then drawn through another slot to the other additional bore and to the longitudinal bore. As a result the threading of the yarn is greatly simplified.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein;

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the false twist spindle, and

FIG. 2 is an end view of the false twist spindle shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 11 designates a housing to one end of which a cap 12 is secured by means of bolts 13 and to the other end of which a cap 14 is secured by means of bolts 15. Extending longitudinally through the casing 11 is a hollow shaft 16, one end of which is journalled for rotation in a ball bearing 17 seated in the cap 12 and held in place by means of a plug 18 in threaded engagement with said cap. The hollow shaft 16 is held in position in the ball bearing 17 by means of a collar 19 which is threaded onto the end of said hollow shaft. The other end of the hollow shaft 16 is journalled for rotation in a ball bearing 21 which is seated in a recess in the cap 14 on a spring washer 22 that rests on a gasket 23 to permit some adjustment of the ball bearing 21 so that the hollow shaft 16 will run freely therein. A second shaft 24, extending through the cap 14-, comprising a yarn engaging means, is in threaded engagement with the lower end of the hollow shaft 16 and acts to hold the hollow shaft 16 in position in the ball bearing 21.

Secured to, the hollow shaft 16 is a turbine rotor 25 which rests on a collar 26 also secured to the said shaft. The turbine rotor 25 comprises a rotor disk 27 having a plurality of turbine blades 28 extending around the periphery thereof. A fluid under pressure is introduced through a hose connection 29 to drive the turbine rotor 25, which hose connection is threaded into the cap 12 and leads the fluid to an aperture 31 comprising a nozzle which directs the fluid "against the turbine blades 28. The

fluid then traverses the casing 11 and is exhausted therefrom through a passageway 32 which leads to a semicir cular passageway 33 extending around a portion of the lower end of said casing. From the passageway 33, the fluid flows to the atmosphere through apertures 34 extending through the cap 14. To streamline the flow of fluid from the casing '11 to the passageway 32, there is provided a collar 35 of generally triangular cross-section which encircles the shaft 16 and seats on the outersection of the bearing 21. Fluid under pressure introduced through the hose coupling 29 will drive the turbine rotor 25' and the hollow shaft 16 to which itis secured at high speeds ranging up to 75,000 revolutions per minute, or even more, smoothly and without excessive power drain.

A yarn 36 to which a false twist is to be imparted is introduced into the hollow shaft 16 through an aperture 37 extending through the plug 18 After traversing the hollow shaft 16, the yarn 36 enters a bore 38 extending longitudinally through the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is also provided with a pair of bores 39 and 41 extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said shaft, which bores 39 and 41 are of equal size and intersect one another and the bore 38 at right angles. The yarn 36 is threaded from the bore 38 to the exterior of the shaft 24 through the bore 41 and back again to the interior of the shaft 24 through the bore 39 and then to the end of the shaft 24 and through the bore 38. To assist in threading the" yarn 36 there are provided slots 42 which extend from one end of the shaft 24 to the longitudinal bore 38. In threading up the yarn 36, it is first drawn completely through the bore 38 to the end of the shaft 24. It is then moved through one of the slots 42 into the bore 41 to the exterior of the shaft 24 and back through another of the slots 42 to the bore 39 and into the bore 38.

Through the use of a turbine drive forthe false twist spindle, it is possible to obtain extremely high spindle speeds without difliculty. As a result, the yarn may be drawn through the false twist apparatus at high rates even when it is desired to apply a high twist thereto. In addition, because of the design of the false twist spindle, it may be threaded up readily and will engage the yarn positively so that a definite degree of twist may be applied thereto. 7

While the yarn engaging means has been shown secured to the exit end of the hollow shaft 16' it may, if desired, be secured to the entrance end of said shaft.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and'that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A false twist spindle comprising a hollow shaft through which a yarn is adapted to be threaded, a'turbine operatively connected to said hollow shaft and operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, a casing enclosing said hollow shaft and said turbine, means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said casing to said turbine, means for exhausting the fluid'from said casing, means for streamlining the flow of fluid from the casing, and means symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said hollow shaft for positively engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation-of the yarn about its longitudinalaxis.

2. A false twist spindle comprising a hollow shaft through which a yarn is adapted to be threaded, bearings rotatably supporting said hollow shaft, a turbine operatively connected'to said hollow shaft and operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, a casing enclosing said hollow shaft and said turbine, means for admitting a fluid under pressure irito said casing" to said turbine, means'for exhausting the-fluid from said casing, means for streamlining the flow of fluid from the casing, andmeans symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said hollow shaft for positively engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis.

3. A false twist spindle comprising a turbine operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, and means operatively connected to said turbine for engaging a yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis, said yarn engaging means comprising a shaft having abore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additional bores and from the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, whereby the yarn may be threaded through the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinalbore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back again from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore through the other of the additional bores, said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the additional bores during threading up. v I

4. A false twist spindle comprising a shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additional bores and from the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, whereby the yarn may be threaded through the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back again from the exterior of the shaft to the longi tudinal bore through the other of the additional bores, said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the additional bores during threading up. p t

5. A false twist spindle comprising a turbine operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, and means operatively connected to said turbine for engaging a yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis, said yarn engaging means comprising a shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additional bores and from the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, said two additional bores being of equal size, extending completely through the shaft at right angles to each other and to the longitudinal bore and intersecting one another and the longitudinal bore, whereby the yarn may be threaded through the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back again from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore through the other of the additional bores,; said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the additional bores during threading up.

6. A false twist spindle comprisinga shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additionalbores and from the'longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, said two additional bores being of equal size, extending completely through the shaft at right angles to each otherand' to the longitudinalbore and intersecting one another and the longitudinal bore, whereby the yarn may be threadedthrough the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back'again from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore through the other of the additional'bores, said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the additional bores during threading up. I

7. A false twist spindle comprising a hollow shaft through which a yarn is adapted to be threaded, bearings rotatably supporting said hollow shaft, a turbine operatively connected to said hollow shaft and operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, and means for engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis, said yarn engaging means comprising a shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additional bores and from the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, whereby the yarn may be threaded through the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back again from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore through the other of the additional bores, and said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the addition al bores during threading up.

8, A false twist spindle comprising a hollow shaft through which a yarn is adapted to be threaded, bearings rotatably supporting said hollow shaft,a turbine operatively connected to said hollow shaft and operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, a casing enclosing said hollow shaft and said turbine, means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said casing to said turbine, means for exhausting the fluid from said casing, and means for engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis, said yarn engaging means comprising a shaft having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and having two additional bores extending from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore, and having slots extending from one end of said shaft to said additional bores and from the longitudinal bore to the exterior of the said shaft, said two additional bores being of equal size, extending completely through the shaft at right angles to each other and to the longitudinal bore and intersecting one another and the longitudinal bore, whereby the yarn may be threaded through the longitudinal bore, out from said longitudinal bore to the exterior of the shaft through one of the additional bores, and back again from the exterior of the shaft to the longitudinal bore through the other of the additional bores, and said slots permitting the yarn to be drawn readily from the longitudinal bore to the additional bores during threading up.

9. A false twist spindle comprising a hollow shaft through which a yarn is adapted to be threaded, a turbine operatively connected to said hollow shaft and operated by fluid under pressure for rotation at high speeds, 2. casing enclosing said hollow shaft and said turbine, means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said casing to said turbine, means for exhausting the fluid from said casing, means for streamlining the flow of fluid from the casing, and means rotationally balanced with respect tothe longitudinal axis of said hollow shaft for positively engaging the yarn whereby the rotation of the turbine will cause rotation of the yarn about its longitudinal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 99,674 House Feb. 8, 1870 135,338 Howard et al. Ian. 28, 1873 983,641 Pease Feb. 7, 1911 1,126,042 Lister Jan. 26, 1915 1,669,657 Dunkel et al. May 15, 1928 1,771,656 Roe July 29, 1930 2,239,722 Lannan et al Apr. 29, 1941 2,463,619 Kunzle Mar. 8, 1949 2,659,193 Hegedus Nov. 17, 1953 2,863,280 Ubbelohde Dec. 9, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,279 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1932 458,692 Germany Apr. 17, 1928 651,337 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1951 

